Retired engineer Mr Pratt, 62, was killed when armed men climbed aboard their yacht moored off the coast of the Caribbean island on January 17, while

Mrs Pratt, 60, was left badly injured in the attack.

Richie Kern, Kervin Devaux, Fannis Joseph and Jeromine Jones, all of Bruceville, Vieux Fort in St Lucia, have been charged with murder and robbery in connection with the incident. They did not enter any pleas.

The men, who are aged between 21 and 31, appeared before the Second District Court in Vieux Fort for the third time. They are charged with robbing a woman and intention to cause grievous bodily harm resulting in the death of her husband while they were on holiday in St Lucia.

Their latest appearance yesterday was for a sufficiency hearing – to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to commit them to trial – and it was adjourned to May 23, 2014.

Mr and Mrs Pratt grew up in Norfolk and met sailing on the Broads. The couple had sailed to the Caribbean on their yacht the Magnetic Attraction.

They set off on a dream round-the world trip on their 42ft yacht, leaving from Lowestoft last July, and were members of the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club.